"iTampon"? can't it be called by the name apple has given it? let's be a little more mature here.

I'd rather a netbook over an ipad. It seems king of gimmicky to me. I don't care for apple products though, so my opinion is bound to be slanted.

Why would we do that?  When the company in question is talkign about unicorns and fairy dust.

ok, be mature than apple. we aren't in middle school anymore.

Hehe, I have to pay that one.  

It's getting to the point (with Jobsy, that is) where I'm scared to say ifarted... in case he claims to have invented it and the bastard sues me.

Wouldn't do him any good anyhow... cos ibroke.

The people that made the movie I Robot will get sued too right?

I have no idea why the iPad is so hyped.

I can't honestly think of HOW I'm supposed to use the device. Laying it flat on a table would suck (you'd have to hunch over). Even if it was propped up with something, then you wouldn't be able to type efficiently (making it an oversized iPod Touch...and I already have an iPhone). You could hold it like a clipboard, but then typing is completely inefficient. I suppose it might work this way if it had perfect handwriting recognition, but I'm doubtful to say the least.

The only practical use of this thing that I can think of is for an artist who might use it to sketch things out. Then it seems like a natural fit. But otherwise....I don't know what practical use this has.

I was reading an article on Ars and one of the editor's had the same initial thought I did- while it does fit between a cell phone and a laptop, but it takes all the worst features of both. It's too big (and not a cell phone, but let's pretend) to really replace my cell phone and/or take with me everywhere. And if I'm going to a place that I intend to do some work or kill a fair amount of time, I'd prepare and bring a laptop/netbook with me since it can simply do more. The iPad just doesn't seem to fit in anyone's lifestyle realistically.

They should be. By making a movie that all but completely disregard the book it's named after...

I never read the book but I liked the movie.

Bit like Jobsy these days, eh!  Not as quick as he used to be (getting older/sick n' all), so the one task design is intentional.... so's he can keep up with it/has less to think about/remember.

That's not surprising!  'Twas to be expected, though, given Jobsy's feeble (read piss weak) ad campaign that ran down/cast aspersions on MS/Windows/Vista/Win 7.  Yup, Jobsy's gone off the boil orright.  I mean, surely he had to know that the iPad would be likened/associated with feminine hygiene products, right? 

Yet it was still named the iPad.

I can see where Jobsy was going with this one... or at least see his reasoning.... as in feminine hygiene products (such as the Kotex) have more than one use.  Like mechanics use them to mop up oil spills; surgeons use them to mop the sweat from their brow so they don't drip into the patients wounds; teachers use them to clean off the black/whiteboard, and some truck drivers carry them aboard their rigs to help stem the flow of blood in the event of a serious accident. 

Dunno that the iPad will stem the flow of Apple's life's blood (these days Jobsy looks like he could use a transfusion) but one can only hope the iPad dies a quick and painless death... before Apple/Jobsy comes up with the iCondom as protection/prevention against viruses, etc.

Bit like the 'Jack of all Trades'.... master of none!

Oh, and on the subject of Jobsy's illness, rumour (and yes, that IS the correct spelling) has it that it is AIDS (Apple Induced Diahorrea Syndrome) ans is probably terminal.

How true....

I was thinking shot!

The I, Robot movie ain't that bad once you realize it was meant to be a completely separate story and only got the name of Asimov's book by executive meddling a couple weeks before release, who were trying to take advantage of their newly-acquired "IP".

As for the topic at hand, it's clear Apple realizes their sales highly depend on the Reality Distortion Field they're able to project, and this is nothing but a (failed) attempt to increase its range. The loyalists continue to be loyal, the indecisive continues to not really care, and everybody else is still laughing at it. Their magic has convinced absolutely no one.